Typewriter desk



y 1957 c. o. APPLEGATE 2,798,782

' TYPEWRITER DESK V Filed May 27," 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WMQ/h? I j. Y ORNEY INVENTOR July 9, 1957 r c. o. APPLEGATE TYPEWRITER DESK Filed May 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M mm M Y W E mm P ATTORNEY r v-g TYPEWRITER DESK Charles 0. Applegate, Alexandria, Va.; Virginia C. Applegate, Alexandria, Va., executrix of said CharlesO. Applegate, deceased Application May 27, 1954, Serial No. 432,633

' 4 Claims. (Cl. 312-26) This invention pertains to an improvement in desks, and more particularly to an improved design of desk which enables it to receive and support a standard typewriter in either of two positions, in one of which it is in position for use, and in the other of which it is stored beneath the desk.

Many efforts have been made to provide a typewriter desk of this type, and while several designs satisfactory for ofiice use have been produced, they are not well adapted to economical mass production. It is generally desired that, when the typewriter is in its stowed position, the upper surface of the desk shall lie in a single plane, this plane being positioned at the proper height above the floor for ordinary writing purposes and other uses to which a flat type desk is devoted. At the same time, when the desk is converted to place the typewriter in its operative position, the typewriter support surface should be several inches below the upper plane of the desk top itself, for maximum efliciency and comfort.

Efiorts to obtain the above features in commercial construction have all resulted either in undesirable complication of the mechanism, or in structures which are inconvenient and difficult to convert from one use to the other. Combined sliding and tilting movements have always been involved, and the necessary linkages and other parts represent a cost which often makes the desk impractical: for example for school use, where the quantities of desks and limited budgets make it impossible to provide a convertible type. The result has been that schools and other large users generally employ simple tables upon which the typewriter is placed, such tables thus not being available for other purposes such as the teaching of bookkeeping or other subjects which require standard desk height.

It is accordingly a principal object of the invention to provide a design for a convertible typewriter desk which has only two moving parts, both of which are simple pivoted structures, and which may be formed economically of wood, if desired. Another object of the invention is to provide such a convertible desk in which the typewriter will be positioned at proper typing height when it is in use, and in which the desk presents a smooth level top of full size when the typewriter is moved to its stored position.'

A further object of the invention is to provide a desk of this type in which the use of spring and counterweights is not necessary, because the design provides for continuous support of the weight of the typewriter from a simple pivot; about which the necessaryswinging movements can readily be controlled without requiring any great amount of force.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will best be understood by referring now to the following detailed specification of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example, and taken in connection with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a desk in accordance with the invention, shown with the typewriter in position for use.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig.1, and illustrating the appearance of the desk when the typewriter is stored away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, with parts broken away, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4. j

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but to a smaller scale, and showing the typewriter in the use position,

and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the manner in which the typewriter support is pivoted at the desired point.

In the desk which is now to be described, practically all of the parts may be made of wood, plywood being preferred for the fiat members. However, it is to be understood that metal may be substituted where conditions dictate.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the desk is illustrated as providing a principal top member 10 preferably formed of a single piece of plywood or the like, and having a cut-out portion indicated by numerals 12 extending from the front edge of the top rearwardly for a depth sufficient to accommodate the usual form of typewriter to be employed. The top 10 is supported by 21 depending apron or frame comprising a front piece 14 and side pieces of which one is shown at numeral 16. Obviously, a rear panel 18 (Fig. 3) will normally be provided for strength and appearance. A portion of the front panel 14 is also cut away, as at 18, so as: to form with the cut-out 12 a well in which the typewriter will be positioned when in use. The cut-out 18 .is of course located to agree in width with the width of cut-out 12, and the inner wall of the well will preferably be finished with panels of which one is designated in Fig. 1 by numeral 20. p

While the top assembly described above may be supported in various ways, use is preferably made of four legs 22 secured in any desired fashion to the apron 14, the side pieces 16 and/or the top panel 10. A pull-out shelf 24 and a drawer 26 may be provided in the usual way, the arrangements as to these parts forming no part of the present invention. If desired, an auxiliary lower shelf 27 may be connected between two of the legs as shownin Fig. 1.

It is preferred to provide an additional leg brace shown in Fig. 1 as a horizontal strip 28 secured between the two rear legsat a level which brings it slightly above the point at which the typewriter carrying panel. will light when the typewriter is in folded-away position. This strip preferablycarries resilient bumpers 29 which will cushion any shock in the event the typewriter support is accidentally dropped to its lower position.

The longitudinal section of the front panel 14 lying beneath cut-out 18 is designated in the drawings by nurneral 30, and just above itis disposed a batten 32 (which may be provided with a knob), and connected to the portion 30 as by hinges 34, whereby .the batten may be swung forward when the position. of the typewriter is to be changed.

The element which carries the typewriter itself may also be formed of wood, suitably braced, and is constituted by a pair of panels secured together so as to exhibit an L-shape when viewed endwise'.

This arrangement is partly illustrated in Fig. 3, in which the first one of the major panels of the L-shaped structure is designated by numeral 36 and the second panel secured at right angles thereto is designated by numeral 38. At their juncture, these panels may be secured to one another by screws, glue and the like, and one panel is beveled so as to present a chamfered corner on the assembly. Obviously, additional fastenings may Patented July 9, 1957 The outer ,surliace of panel 3 6;bQc0mescoplanar with the top surface of desk top 10 when the typewriter is in.

stored position. This condition is ;illustrated;in Fig, 3,

inwhich it will be seen that the charnfered edgeat'the joint between panels 36 and 38 engages a complementary.

chamfer on the portion-of top 10 lyingbehind -the cutsout or opening 12. When in this condition, asupportlip44; which is. integral with or fastenedto batten, 36 and extendsat right angles thereto, rests upon the top edge of: batten 32, which in turn is supported by the portion of:

front panel 14. The parts are so dimensioned that; when in this position, the top surface ofpanel 36', williiorm a. smooth continuous work surface with the upper surface of desk top 10, andpanel138 will depend vertically from panel 36 as shown in Fig. 3 T he typewriter, of course,

is securely fastened to panel 38; so that it, will, be held;

therein .in any-position of the device. The length. of panel 38 (from front to rear when the typewriter is, in use) issuchthat its forward edge will rest upon a support strip 46, integral with or fastened to thebatten 32, when the typewriter is in its use position. Thiscondition is shown in Fig. 4, and it will be understood that when.

the panel 38 is being tilted: upward to raise the typewriter, batten32 may be tilted forward to clear the front edge of the panel, and then restored to its Fig. 4 position to support the panel 38 firmily in position. At this time, the upper panel 36 will of course extend vertically upward, and it may be used to support copy being transcribed, or for other purposes.

The position of the pivot axis for the assembly of,

panels 36.38 is of critical importance in the present construction. In the vertical direction, the center line of the pivot axis mustlie in the horizontal plane defined,

by the underside of panel 36, which of course will be coplanar withthe underside of top 10 if these'parts are of the same thickness. The pivot action is provided by a pair of cylindrical bearing studs connecting panel 36 to the top 10,. one of these being indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 by numeral 48. Thenecessary cylindrical socket for each stud may easily be provided by mating semicylindrical recesses formed in the underside of panel 36 and the block 42, for example. This arrangement is illustratedin Fig. 5, which also shows that the other portion of.pivot48 extends into a similar recess formed between a portion of the top 10 at the cut-out edge 12, and a welllining panel 50 or brace block 52 secured to the liner or the desk top 10. Obviously, there will 'be two of these, pivots 48, one at each lateral edge of the panel 36, and they will beconcentric in position.

The position of pivot-48in the .fore-and-aft direction on panel 36 is also critical. As will best be seen in Fig. 4, the distance from the center axis of pivot 48 to the typewriter supporting surface of panel 38, when added to the thickness. of. the material forming top 10, must equal the desired lowering of the support for the typewriter with respect to the desired normal height of the fiat desk top. If this condition is satisfied, then proper vertical placement. of the typewriter will be automatically assured, as will the desired uninterrupted workingsurface of top 10 when the typewriter is moved to its out-of-useposition.

It will be seen from the above, description that the in-' vention provides a convertiblesdesk in which nearly all of the parts are of simple shape and can be .fabricated by ordinary production methods of the woodworking industry, and that it provides for proper placement of both the typewriter support and the normal desk surface with a minimum of mechanical complication. The support is very sturdy and dependable and does not involve the use of springs, auxiliary counterweights or other complicating factors characteristic of prior art solutions to the problem. While the. invention has been described in detail herein in compliance with they patent statutes, it is to be understood that substitutions and modifications within the ability of the skilled worker can readily be accomplished without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended'claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a typewriter desk, a flat top having a rectangular section intersecting one edge cut out to define a well, a typewriter carrying assembly pivoted to said' top and withinjsaid well, said assembly comprising a first panel and a-second: panelrigidly secured to one another in right angle relationship, the pivotal connection between said assembly and said top being locatedon the first panel a substantial distanceforwardly. of the intersection of said panels, so that in one pivotal position of said assembly, 1'

the first panelforms a closure. for said well which is flush with the remainderof said top panel, and in another position of said assembly, said second panel forms a typewriter support, within said well parallel to said top but spaced beneaththesame a distance to provideproper typewriter height.

2. In a typewriter desk, a flattop having a-rectangular section intersecting one edge cut out to define a well, a rigid typewriter carrying assembly pivoted to said top at opposite edgesofthe rectangular section, said assembly comprising a first'panel anda second panel rigidly secured to one another. in right angle relationship, the pivotal ax-is being parallel to the joint between said panels and being located on the first panel a substantial distanceforwardly of: the intersection of said panels, so that in one position of said assembly, the first panel forms a closure for said well which is. flush with the remainder ofsaid; top panel, and in another. position of said assembly said; second panelforms a typewriter support within saidwell parallel to said top panel but spaced beneaththe same; a distance to provide proper typewriter height,

3. A typewriter desk-,in accordance with claim 2, includinglegs supportingsaidtop, a brace extending between two of said'legsgand passing adjacent the location of said second; panel whensaidassemblyis in its first position, and, a; resilient. bumper on said, brace for engagement by said second panel.

4. A typewriter desk in accordancewith claim 2, including an apron dependingpfrorn said top, adjacent its rim, a cut-outportionin the front panel of,said apron complementing the-cut1 out of said/top, and a movable support strip hinged to said front panel for supporting selectively the first and second'panels in the two positions of saidassembly.

References Cited'in thefile ofthis. patent UNITED" STATES PATENTS 956,513 Bickel May 3, 1910 993,588 Donning May 30, 1911 2,401,526 Ullman June 4, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 304.921. Italy Jan. 21, 1933 

